Intersections of ethnicity, gender, poverty, and mental health in adolescence in the context of COVID-19
Lead Research Organisation:
King's College London
Department Name: Health Service and Population Research
Abstract
All teenagers are affected by COVID-19 to some extent. Education is severely disrupted, social activities are restricted, and plans are suspended. For many, these changes will produce feelings of worry and low mood. But some groups will be affected more than others. Those from disadvantaged and marginalised backgrounds (e.g., low-income households, minority ethnic groups), and those who were already experiencing mental health difficulties, may be particularly vulnerable. However, at present we have little information about the impact of COVID-19 and school closures on the mental health of adolescents. Without this, it is difficult to develop effective responses to support those who need it most. The proposed work will address this knowledge gap. We will use existing data from, and collect new data in, our ongoing study of adolescent mental health, REACH (www.thereachstudy.com), which - uniquely - involves thousands of teenagers from low income households and minority ethnic groups. Within 12 months, we will (a) generate new information about which groups of young people are most affected and why (b) work with young people, teachers, and the public to translate this information into public health benefits, and (c) consolidate this unique study for further research on lasting impacts of COVID-19 and potential interventions.
Technical Summary
All young people are affected, to some extent, by COVID-19 and related social restrictions, but some groups are affected more than others. Those in low-income households, black and minority ethnic groups, and with pre-existing mental health problems, are especially vulnerable. At present we have limited information about the impact of COVID-19 and social restrictions on the mental health of adolescents in these groups. There is an urgent need to generate this information to inform effective responses and interventions to support disadvantaged and vulnerable young people. Our proposed work will make a substantial and unique contribution to generating this evidence base. We will examine - in a socially and ethnically diverse and well-characterised adolescent cohort (REACH) - mental health and social and personal experiences among adolescents from diverse backgrounds in the context of COVID-19. Within 12 months, we will: (a) generate new information about which groups of young people are most affected, and why, and identify modifiable protective factors that mitigate the effects of COVID-19 and social restrictions on adolescent mental health; (b) work closely with young people, schools, community organisations, and the public to translate this information into tangible policy recommendations and public health benefits; and (c) consolidate and rapidly mobilise this unique cohort for further research (e.g., on long-term impacts, mechanisms, interventions) among diverse groups. As far as we are aware, REACH is the only existing cohort with sufficient numbers in low income and minority ethnic groups and with previous waves of data that can deliver these urgently needed outputs.
Publications
Crudgington H
(2022)
Peer-Friendship Networks and Self-injurious Thoughts and Behaviors in Adolescence: A Systematic Review of Sociometric School-based Studies that Use Social Network Analysis
in Adolescent Research Review
Das-Munshi J
(2021)
All-cause and cause-specific mortality in people with mental disorders and intellectual disabilities, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: cohort study.
in The Lancet regional health. Europe
Knowles G
(2021)
Mental distress among young people in inner cities: the Resilience, Ethnicity and AdolesCent Mental Health (REACH) study.
in Journal of epidemiology and community health
Knowles G
(2022)
Covid-19, social restrictions, and mental distress among young people: a UK longitudinal, population-based study.
in Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines
Knowles G
(2022)
Cohort Profile: Resilience, Ethnicity and AdolesCent mental Health (REACH).
in International journal of epidemiology
| Description | We have completed extensive research on the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of young people, particularly in disadvantaged, marginalised, and vulnerable groups, including 3 mid-Covid-19 waves (adding to 3 pre-covid waves) of data collection with our REACH cohort of ~ 1,800 young people. In addition to questionnaire data from all, a sub-sample of around 50 young people completed video or audio diaries related to their experiences of the pandemic and social restrictions over an eight-week period, producing in-depth data from the perspectives of young people. This work has been co-produced and conducted in full partnership with young people. Three key findings from our published work and supporting reports: (1) The negative effects of the pandemic on mental health were greatest among young people who reported financial hardship, poor housing, worse relationships and isolation, and disruption to routines. (2) These challenges were cumulative, such that levels of mental distress increased as the number of negative effects increased. (3) Keeping up with schooling and access to education were key sources of worry for young people - particularly girls and those from disadvantaged backgrounds - with concerns about exams, falling behind with schoolwork, and making the next step to further education being the most common concerns. In addition, we have completed extensive engagement and consultations with young people, including a festival for young people, and other stakeholders to distil the implications of our findings into a set of policy proposals that have been widely disseminated in the form of 6 policy priorities. This work has generated a unique and robust data source on the mental health of young people from diverse backgrounds through the pandemic. Further analyses, e.g., on the longer term impacts of the pandemic, are ongoing. Emerging findings suggest girls may be disproportionately impacted. For instance, risks of sustained declines in mental health over the 2 to 3 year period since the start of the pandemic are around 80% higher among girls compared with boys. Findings are being shared widely with decision makers, local government, and health and education professionals, and are contributing to and shaping public debate (links provided below). 1) Public debate, media coverage - Science media centre: https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-systematic-review-and-meta-analysis-on-mental-health-before-and-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/ - KCL press release: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/pandemic-impacts-young-people-reach - BBC Radio 4 documentary: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000pxqz - World: We Got This podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/adolescent-mental-health-in-time-covid-dr-gemma-knowles/id1510979126?i=1000508137651 - Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/mar/08/covid-effect-mental-health-study-mcgill-university - BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64890952 - LBC radio: https://www.globalplayer.com/catchup/lbc/uk/episodes/2zGtG8HrMuVJq2mhHVL8vRVaj9/ 2) Publications, reports - Research article: https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcpp.13586 - Report: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/pandemic-impacts-young-people-reach - APPG on a Fit and Healthy Childhood report titled "The COVID generation: A mental health pandemic in the making" (REACH cited on p32): https://fhcappg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/THE-COVID-GENERATION-REPORT-April2021.pdf - Recommendations, co-created with young people: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/csmh/assets/reach-covid/6-priorities-to-enable-young-people-to-thrive-post-pandemic-final.pdf - Festival for young people: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/reach-festival-for-young-people - Policy brief: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/csmh/assets/youth-mental-health-and-covid-19-2021-policy-lab-briefing-note.pdf 3) Presentations, talks a) EPA Section of Epidemiology and Social Psychiatry, Cambridge https://www.psychepi.org/congress/programme/ - symposium on the unequal impacts of pandemic on mental health, including three talks about our research: - Young co-researchers, on coproducing research on the impacts of the pandemic on youth mental health: reflections and top tips for researchers - Miguel-Esponda, on emerging findings from REACH video diary study - Knowles, on emerging and evolving findings from REACH covid waves b) Japanese Society for Prevention & Early Intervention in Psychiatry, international conference: http://jseip25.umin.jp/ - Knowles, on emerging and evolving findings from REACH covid waves c) CSMH & Emerging Minds conference on 'Youth Mental Health and Covid-19: The Evidence': https://emergingminds.org.uk/youth-mental-health-covid-19-the-evidence-base-2-disadvantaged-marginalised-vulnerable-groups/ (live streamed to the public on YouTube), including: - Miguel-Esponda, on emerging findings from REACH video diary study - Knowles, on emerging and evolving findings from REACH covid waves - Post conference policy lab with key stakeholders and young people, resulting in co-created policy briefing: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/csmh/assets/youth-mental-health-and-covid-19-2021-policy-lab-briefing-note.pdf |
| Exploitation Route | (1) By health services and health practitioners: e.g., child and adolescent mental health services and practitioners, to inform engagement with young people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic (2) By schools: e.g., to inform work with young people, provision of support services, and targeted in-school interventions for those most affected by the pandemic and those in disadvantaged, marginalised, and vulnerable groups (3) By community organisations and services supporting young people: e.g., to inform work with those most impacted by the pandemic (4) By policy makers: e.g., to inform policy responses to mitigate the impacts of the Covid-19 on young people and adults with mental health problems, particular those in disadvantaged, marginalised, and vulnerable groups (5) By local government: e.g., to inform borough-wide health and wellbeing profiles for the annual Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and subsequent recommendation and actions |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Education Healthcare Government Democracy and Justice |
| URL | https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcpp.13586 |
| Description | Some examples of non-academic impact generated from this work: (1) Policy Brief: developed following a conference and policy lab, in collaboration with the UKRI Emerging Minds Network, setting out proposals to mitigate the impacts of Covid-19 on the mental health of young people: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/briefing-calls-for-acti on-on-youth-mental-health-and-covid-19, https://www.kcl.ac.uk/csmh/assets/youth-mental-health-and-covid-19-2021-policy-lab-briefing-note.pdf (2) Recommendations co-created with young people: a 6-point set of priorities to support young people to thrive post-pandemic, based on our findings, the wider evidence base, and a series of consultation events including a Festival for Young People: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/csmh/assets/reach-covid/6-priorities-to-enable-young-people-to-thrive-post-pandemic-final.pdf, https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/reach-festival-for-young-people (3) Public debate: findings have been disseminated widely to inform and contribute to public debate on impacts and on what needs to change, including coverage in The Guardian, BBC News, LBC radio, live streamed public-facing talks, and podcasts. (See links above.) (4) Government: findings cited in report by the Fit and Healthy Childhood APPG, titled "The COVID generation: A mental health pandemic in the making" (p32): https://fhcappg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/THE-COVID-GENERATION-REPORT-April2021.pdf (5) Professional development, practice: e.g., findings presented to school leaders and health professionals (e.g., as part of national CPD training day for public health registrars), highlighting unequal impacts on youth mental health and the importance of social conditions and contexts |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Education,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | CSMH Policy Briefing B001 on Youth Mental Health and COVID-19 |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| URL | https://www.kcl.ac.uk/csmh/assets/youth-mental-health-and-covid-19-2021-policy-lab-briefing-note.pdf |
| Description | ESRC Commissioned rapid review and report on the impacts of social isolation among disadvantaged and vulnerable groups during public health crises |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://esrc.ukri.org/news-events-and-publications/evidence-briefings/impacts-of-social-isolation-am... |
| Description | MOPAC Consultation |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Submission to the call for evidence on Health and Social Care Prevention (REACH) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Submission to the call for evidence on Health and Social Care Prevention with Money and Mental Health |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | 1-day knowledge-exchange event, on mental health in inner-city London schools |
| Amount | £4,050 (GBP) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Department | Research England |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2021 |
| End | 06/2022 |
| Description | ATTUNE: Understanding mechanisms and mental health impacts on Adverse Childhood Experiences to co-design preventative arts and digital interventions |
| Amount | £3,899,086 (GBP) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2021 |
| End | 08/2025 |
| Description | COVID-19 pandemic in London: impacts of prolonged social distancing, isolation, and school closures on adolescent mental health and wellbeing rapidly develop methods to obtain information, over time, from young people in inner-London on how they are adap |
| Amount | £19,980 (GBP) |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2020 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | Changing The Trajectories Of Mental Health Difficulties In Norfolk And Suffolk: A Research-priority-setting Project With Patients, The Public, Clinicians, Policymakers, And Stakeholders |
| Amount | £15,614 (GBP) |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Description | Data Science to inform NHS compound winter pressure policy response |
| Amount | £54,070 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Health Data Research UK |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | IAA Social Science Festival award - Young voices: a collaborative approach in sharing findings from the REACH study |
| Amount | £1,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2020 |
| End | 11/2020 |
| Description | Invitation Program for Foreign Researchers at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science |
| Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Japan |
| Start | 11/2022 |
| End | 01/2023 |
| Description | King's Public Engagement Small Grant - Young Voices Mental Health Forum: A series of co-produced events for young people to discuss contemporary issues in mental health |
| Amount | £900 (GBP) |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2021 |
| End | 07/2022 |
| Description | Mental Health Data Prize |
| Amount | £40,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 226700/Z/22/Z |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2022 |
| End | 02/2023 |
| Description | Spatial analysis of REACH data |
| Amount | £58,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2021 |
| End | 06/2022 |
| Description | Young people, mental health, and a pandemic: Experiences and consequences of lockdown and social distancing in Lambeth and Southwark |
| Amount | £49,961 (GBP) |
| Organisation | South London and Maudsley (SLAM) NHS Foundation Trust |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2020 |
| End | 08/2021 |
| Description | Black Thrive |
| Organisation | Black Thrive |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in research methods, peer researcher training, supporting community-based research, data analysis |
| Collaborator Contribution | Participation in programme planning, supporting engagement and impact activities, expertise in community-based research |
| Impact | no outcomes as yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | McPin Foundation |
| Organisation | McPin Foundation |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Research collaboration, engagement, and training |
| Collaborator Contribution | Research collaboration and engagement |
| Impact | Several publications and funding awards |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Signatory on Centre for Mental Health Mentally Healthier Nation report |
| Organisation | Centre for Mental Health |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | Amplify and support dissemination of the Centre for Mental Health's Mentally Healthier Nation repo |
| Collaborator Contribution | Promoting the Centre for Society and Mental Health's support of the report as a co-signatory. |
| Impact | This is an output as a result of the continuing collaboration with the Centre for Mental Health which has lead to promoting and amplifying each others work and working together to co-lead 2x policy labs later in 2024. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Tokyo Metropolitan Government |
| Organisation | Tokyo Metropolitan Government |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Gemma Knowles and Gabriel Lawson hosted delegation from Tokyo Metropolitan Government in Oct 2022 and shared evidence on inequalities on youth mental health and discussed models for coproducing research and policy recommendations with young people (cited in the Government's forthcoming report on plans for child and adolescent health policy) |
| Collaborator Contribution | Citing evidence from CSMH in the Government's forthcoming report on plans for child and adolescent health policy |
| Impact | Tokyo Metropolitan Government's forthcoming report on plans for child and adolescent health policy |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Working with Citizens UK |
| Organisation | Citizens UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | On going collaborative working. Provided advice on specific projects based in North East England, South Wales and London. Provided advice on ethics, working with peer researchers, evaluation models for Citizen's UK project South London Listens https://www.southlondonlistens.org/. Sharing initial findings, supporting dissemination of reports, events and promotion materials. |
| Collaborator Contribution | On going collaborative working. Sharing initial findings, supporting dissemination of reports, events and promotion materials. Supporting the development of funding application for ESRC Centres open funding call for ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health 2. |
| Impact | Matthew Bolton, Director, Citizens UK is named as co-investigator on application for ESRC Centres open funding call for ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health 2 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | All in the Mind - What's going on with girls' mental health? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Centre research findings from the Young People programme and the REACH are presented as part of BBC Radio 4's programme All in the Mind. Dr Gemma Knowles, Professor Craig Morgan and members of the Centre's Young People's Community Champions group were interviewed as part of the programme to discuss why statistics over recent years continue to show a disparity in mental health between boys and girls. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001wq87 |
| Description | Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health podcast episode - Resilience, Ethnicity and Adolescent Mental Health (REACH) Project - In conversation with Dr. Gemma Knowles (2021) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Gemma Knowles was invited to be interviewed for an episode of the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health podcast series. Gemma introduced the REACH project which is a study of adolescent mental health based in inner-city London, working with a group of just over 4,000 young people providing information each year about their mental health. Gemma discussed some of the key results, implications of the findings in terms of developing strategies for prevention and interventions, and translating research, such as REACH, into practice to help young people and their families. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.acamh.org/podcasts/resilience-ethnicity-and-adolescent-mental-health-reach-project-in-co... |
| Description | BBC Radio 4 programme 'Generation Covid' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Sally Marlow developed and presented a programme for BBC Radio 4 investigating how the mental health of younger people has been affected under 2020's eventful restrictions, and what it means for their future? Craig Morgan and Gemma Knowles also contributed which raised the profile of the research being undertaken in the Youth and Transitions programme of the Centre. This increased the profile of this research and shared the work of the Centre with a wider audience and increased interest in the Centre. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000pxqz |
| Description | Blog - REACH Diary Study takes deep dive into the impact of COVID-19 on youth mental health |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | To celebrate the launch of the Qualitative Applied Health Research Centre (QUAHRC), the REACH project team reflect on the progress of their Diary Study, and the value of qualitative data in mental health research in this blog for the Centre |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.kcl.ac.uk/reach-diary-study-covid-19-deep-dive |
| Description | Blog - Young people's mental health and cash transfer programmes |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Blog arguing that cash transfer programmes in low- and middle-income countries should focus on vulnerable young people, including those with mental health conditions, and address not just their most urgent needs around food security and survival but also longer-term mental health impacts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.kcl.ac.uk/young-peoples-mental-health-and-cash-transfer-programmes |
| Description | Centre for Society and Mental Health Stakeholder forum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Centre for Society and Mental Health stakeholder forum brought discussions between the Centre researchers and third sector organisations, experts by experience and policy makers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Clarivate Press Release - Highly Cited Researcher List 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health Researchers Craig Morgan; Helen Fisher, Louise Arseneault listed inClarivate Highly Cited Researchers 2021 list. The highly anticipated annual list identifies researchers who demonstrated significant influence in their chosen field or fields through the publication of multiple highly cited papers during the last decade. Their names are drawn from the publications that rank in the top 1% by citations for field and publication year in the Web of Science citation index. This news story raised the profile of the ESRC Centre researchers and contributes to making the Centre the go-to source for objective, policy-relevant insight on issues affecting mental health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://recognition.webofscience.com/awards/highly-cited/2021/?campaignname=Highly_Cited_Researchers... |
| Description | Co-hosted conference: Youth Mental Health & Covid-19: what do we know and what should we do? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Co-hosted a online conference with contributions from Schools, school children, other research organisations, experts by experience and third sector organisations. Over 500 attended the live event with 400 watching live via You Tube. The You Tube recordings have since had nearly 2000 views. The event sparked discussion and debate, strengthening collaboration with the Emerging Mind network and other contributors, significantly raising the profile of the Centre and resulting in an increasing number of social media followers and mailing list subscriptions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.kcl.ac.uk/events/youth-mental-health-covid-19 |
| Description | Craig Morgan centre co-director contributed to BBC Radio 4 programme All in the Mind - Racism, awards and hypermobility |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Promoted the research of the Centre to reach wider audiences. This has led to Claudia Hammond agreeing to contribute to the Centre's upcoming inaugural conference to further raise the profile of the Centre. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000q8z7 |
| Description | Craig Morgan delivered a webinar on The Impact of Modern Society on Mental Health |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Craig delivered a talk exploring the very latest research into the impact of modern society on our communities, workplaces and schools. The discussion that followed increased engagement with the research of the Centre and increased the Centre's reputation which led to an increase in followers on our social media account. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.kcl.ac.uk/events/pgt-showcase-the-impact-of-modern-society-on-mental-health-copy-1430 |
| Description | ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health - Research Methods Primer Series |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The ESRC CSMH Research Primer Series provide training for Centre members in a range of innovative research methods. Speakers introduce the method, share the kinds of research questions it might be interesting to explore with the method and provide attendees with an opportunity to try out the method themselves. Sessions are part of the Early Career Reseacher career development support package offered by the Centre, but are open to all Centre members. The sessions for the 2021 series included: Dr Gina Esponda-Miguel - "Digital diary methods in qualitative research" (31st March 2021) Dr Dario Moreno-Agostino - "Structural Equation Modelling (SEM)" (16th June 2021) Sohail Jannesari Research -"Participatory Action Research" (22nd September 2021) Vanessa May - "Elicitation Interviews" (24th November 21) The sessions for the 2022 series included: Primer - 'Collaborative Poetics' speaker Dr Helen Johnson (27th April 2022 Primer - 'Longitudinal SEM' speaker Dr Gemma Knowles, CSMH (5th October 2022) Provocation - 'How human centered are our research practices?' Speaker Bessie Bulman, Research and Evaluation Project Manager, Thrive LDN (8th March 2023) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022,2023 |
| Description | ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health Seminar series 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Over the last 12 months, we have hosted 4 virtual seminars. The purpose of our seminar is to share insight into both Centre research, and work on similar themes being led by partners or colleagues (from both academia and non-academic organisation). We have had 618 registrations in total, from over 50 countries. From the registration analytics, we can see that an average of 71% of registrations were UK based, and 48% were from King's College London. This wide reach, beyond the Centre, demonstrates the interest and importance of our work, and our ability to influence organisations and academics working in our field. Two seminars were recorded, and have received 134 views on our YouTube channel, further extending our reach. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCidJtTjZsHy3Lyz3OsC4TSw |
| Description | ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health podcast series Our Sick Society 2022 season |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Our podcast has been releasing monthly episodes since September 2021. The project was designed to not only promote Centre research and the work of our stakeholders, but to also provide an opportunity for early career researchers and selected partner staff members to develop skills in public engagement and podcasting. Over the last 12 months, we have released 6 episodes of our podcast, with 1513 listens over three platforms (Soundcloud, Spotify and Apple podcasts). All but one episode were hosted by what are considered to be early career researchers (one was a recording from an event in 2022). Of those hosts, 3 were Centre researchers, 1 was a partner at a community organisation (Black Thrive) and one was completing a Fellowship with a Centre researcher. All have reported an improvement in communication skills as well as personal extended professional networks. The podcast provided an opportunity for the hosts to explore topics that were important to them, connect with stakeholders involved in their area of work, and to improve skills in communicating with non-academics audiences. This years episodes featured 25 guests, 14 of which were external to the Centre. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| URL | https://www.kcl.ac.uk/csmh/news-and-media/podcasts |
| Description | ESRC Festival of Social Science event on London in Lockdown: Young people's perspectives on green spaces, housing, and wellbeing (Morris, Putzgruber, Lam 2021) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Jade Morris, Esther Putzgruber and Joseph Lam and the Risk, Resilience Ethnicity and Adolescent Mental Health REACH study Team and REACH Champions co-produced an online event to present findings from the Risk, Resilience Ethnicity and Adolescent Mental Health (REACH) study (www.thereachstudy.com) that were captured during the Covid-19 pandemic. The event consisted of a one-hour presentation focusing on results from the study on impacts on housing quality, access to green space, and mental health. A 15-minute presentation from young people, who work with the team as REACH Champions, contextualised these findings from their perspective, leading to a 30-minute panel discussion with the REACH research team and REACH Champions to discuss the broader impact of these findings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://festivalofsocialscience.com/events/london-in-lockdown-young-peopleas-perspectives-on-green-s... |
| Description | ESRC and GSR Actionable Insights Seminar Series - Mental health, resilience and wellbeing - insights on how to mitigate impacts on children and families |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Professor Craig Morgan gave a talk on Mental health, resilience and wellbeing - insights on how to mitigate impacts on children and families, as part of the ESRC and GSR Actionable Insights Seminar Series. The seminar focused on: • Effects on vulnerable children and families • Longer-term impacts on mental health and wellbeing • The correlation between social, cultural and economic status and mental health and wellbeing • Intersections of ethnicity, gender, poverty and mental health in adolescence • Lessons for policy on how to mitigate negative impacts |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://solace.org.uk/actionable-insights-policy-seminars/ |
| Description | Interview for national news - BBC news |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Gemma Knowles was quoted in a news story on the findings of the Mental-health crisis from Covid pandemic was minimal - study which sparked further media enquiries and provided an opportunity to present findings from Centre research on the impacts of the pandemic on mental health particularly for young people which somewhat challenged the findings in the study that provoked the news story. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64890952 |
| Description | Interview for national newspaper - The Guardian |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Dr Gemma Knowles was quoted in a news story on the findings of the Mental-health crisis from Covid pandemic was minimal - study which sparked further media enquiries and provided an opportunity to present findings from Centre research on the impacts of the pandemic on mental health particularly for young people and highlighted the need for more detailed analysis as the broad view of the study that provoked the news story included limited analyses broken down by subgrouping which risked 'obscuring important effects among the most affected and disadvantaged groups and, from that, obscuring possible widening of inequalities in mental distress that occurred because of the pandemic'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/mar/08/covid-effect-mental-health-study-mcgill-university |
| Description | Interview for national newspaper - The Times |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Dr Gemma Knowles was quoted in a news story on the findings of the Mental-health crisis from Covid pandemic was minimal - study which sparked further media enquiries and provided an opportunity to present findings from Centre research on the impacts of the pandemic on mental health particularly for young people and highlighted the need for more detailed analysis as the broad view of the study that provoked the news story included limited analyses broken down by subgrouping which risked 'obscuring important effects among the most affected and disadvantaged groups and, from that, obscuring possible widening of inequalities in mental distress that occurred because of the pandemic'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/covid-pandemics-impact-on-mental-health-minimal-2f68dv8bq |
| Description | Interviewed live for LBC radio |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Dr Gemma Knowles was interviewed live on air on for Shelagh Fogarty's programme about the findings of a study from Canada which suggested that Covid-19 may not have taken as great a toll on the mental health of most people as earlier research has indicated. Dr Knowles brought in research findings from the Centre to explain that there is a lot of evidence that the impact of the pandemic was varied and it is important to pay attention to the variability rather than the broad overview where the variability might be balanced out to show not much impact overall. Some groups were impacted more than others and differently over time. The Centre is able to draw on the REACH cohort data which has collected data before the pandemic and through and so can start to unpick how the young people in the cohort's mental health changed over the pandemic. She highlighted that there are insufficient data sources in this country that focus on the most vulnerable people. This interview sparked media calls and showcased Centre research to a wide audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.globalplayer.com/catchup/lbc/london/episodes/2zGzNQfS6QDnLN2xypP6CbQJgg/ |
| Description | Invited Keynote Talk: Society and Mental Health (Psychoses) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Key note talk at Edinburgh University to mark establishment of a University wide network for mental health research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | News Article - King's projects to form part of new £24m investment into adolescent mental health includes announcement that Professor Craig Morgan, from the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health will collaborate with partners on ATTUNE, a £3.82m project led by the University of Oxford and Falmouth University. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | King's news article announcing significant new £24m investment into adolescent mental health from UKRI which King's projects will form part of included the announcement that Professor Craig Morgan would collaborate with partners on Understanding mechanisms and mental health impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences to co-design preventative arts and digital interventions (ATTUNE) a £3.82m project led by the University of Oxford and Falmouth University. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/kings-projects-to-form-part-of-new-24m-investment-into-adolescent-mental-... |
| Description | News story - Cost-of-living crisis is worsening the mental health of most vulnerable |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | King's news story on a study the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health conducted into impact of the cost-of-living crisis on mental health which resulted in a report which was launched in this news story. This report was jointly produced with the Policy Institute and was launched at the Greater London Assembly Cost of Living Conference in October 2023. Attendees discussed the findings in round tables which included engagement from London assembly members. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/cost-of-living-crisis-is-worsening-the-mental-health-of-most-vulnerable |
| Description | Our Sick Society podcast series |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Our Sick Society is a podcast series exploring how social changes affect mental health. Developed and presented by King's College London researchers & Experts by Experience. 6 episodes have been produced and released with over 1,700 listens. The podcasts have raised the profile of the Centre, promoted the research findings of the Centre, strengthened collaborations with Black Thrive, local schools, Jack Drum and individual experts by experience and increased the number of social media followers of the Centre. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/oursicksociety |
| Description | Policy Lab and Brief: "Youth Mental Health and Covid-19: What do we know and what should we do" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | In partnership with the UKRI Emerging Minds Network: A policy lab and, from this, a policy brief, focusing on how to mitigate the impacts of Covid-19 on young people's mental health |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/briefing-calls-for-action-on-youth-mental-health-and-covid-19 |
| Description | REACH Festival for Young People |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A festival for young people. This provided a forum for young people, via a range of activities - including music, live podcast, workshops - to reflect on experiences during the pandemic and identify policy priorities to support young people post-pandemic. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.thereachstudy.com/ypfestival.html |
| Description | Southwark Council lunchtime learning: Recent findings from REACH (Knowles 2021) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Gemma Knowles was invited to give a talk as part of the Southwark Council lunchtime learning series. Gemma presented recent findings from REACH (Resilience, Ethnicity and Adolescent Mental Health) study. The REACH Study is taking place in 12 secondary schools in South London, many of which are in Southwark. The Centre is looking to build stronger relationships with local authorities and this talk was an opportunity to showcase the work that the Centre is doing and to develop that relationship. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | The 2022 ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health Festival: Partnering for Change |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In June 2022, the Centre ran a week long Festival on the theme of "Partnering for Change". The festival celebrated community partnerships in research and showcased our expanding and deepening partnerships that enable systemic inquiry, participation, and actions to address how rapid social change affects the mental health of young people, marginalised communities, and people facing precarious working and living conditions in the UK. We invited our partners to explore the theme of "Partnering for Change", and to organise the event together with us. They were encouraged and supported to contribute through exhibitions, performance, installations, discussions - in any way they wanted, really - at a venue of their choice and with audiences most important to them. The proposed ideas were discussed, planned and supported with a budget to help with development and delivery. We had events organised by Jack Drum Arts in Durham (18-22 June) and, across London, by Black Thrive (21 June) and Thrive LDN (22 June), culminating in a full-day event with The McPin Foundation, the King's Service User Research Enterprise (SURE), Centre PhD student Sanchika Campbell and her PRiSM research team, Traumascapes and Survivor Voices, at the Science Gallery London (23 June). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.kcl.ac.uk/how-can-communities-come-together-to-partner-for-change |
| Description | Virtual Work Experience in Mental Health Research for secondary school children 2021/22 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The REACH Virtual Work Experience in Mental Health Research is a five-day programme for young people aged 14 with an interest in psychology, mental health and/or research. The scheme returns after great success in 2020/21 with the move to delivering the programme virtually enabled many more young people to take up the opportunity. Each day focuses on a different topic related to mental health research with a presentation from a researcher at the start of the day after which students are asked to complete tasks. Optional sessions are also made available, including psychology careers talks and skills-based workshops. The programme aims to provide an opportunity for young people to have access to work experience whilst in-person placements are unavailable due to COVID-19 restrictions. We also aim to increase mental health awareness and understanding of the REACH study amongst the cohort. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | Workshop with school students about adolescent self-harm guidelines for schools |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 30 students from a secondary school in south London attended a workshop that PhD student Holly Crudington set up. She discussed her article about the new NICE guidelines for self-harm which includes schools for the first time What happened: 10 mins introduction, 20 mins - she presented the evidence on self-harm in schools (e.g., how common it is, which things increase or decrease risk of self-harm, differences between genders, etc.), 30-40 mins small group work - students were invited to break into groups and brainstorm ideas for what schools (and peer groups) could do about this issue, 20-30 mins for the groups to feedback and discuss their ideas with the whole group, and to compare their ideas with the recommendations soon to be released by NICE (and generally to reflect on the recommendations, e.g., whether they agree, potential barriers, etc.). Most significant outcome - tailored recommendations for schools |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | World We Got This podcast episode on adolescent mental health in a time of Covid |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Gemma Knowles was interviewed about the research of the young people and transitions programme of the Centre to understand and support young people's mental health and discussed the emerging challenges for young people's mental health and the recent challenges posed by COVID-19. This raised awareness of this programme of research and increased interest in the Centre. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/worldwegotthis/adolescent-mental-health |
| Description | World We Got This podcast episode on the challenges posed to our mental health by Covid-19 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Nikolas Rose and Craig Morgan were interviewed for the World We Got This podcast about the challenges posed to our mental health by COVID-19. They explore how the pandemic and subsequent lockdown is demonstrating the importance of social networks and solidarity for wellbeing. And discuss how this crisis demonstrates the need for a shift in wider government policy if we are to support both physical and mental health. This raised the profile of the Centre and strengthened connections across the Centre and other Faculties. This led to further invitations for the Centre to contribute to future epiodes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/worldwegotthis/mentalhealthandcovid |
| Description | You Tube Video The REACH Diary Study Project |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | From September 2020 to February 2021, 49 young people from South London involved in the REACH project completed interviews and diary entries about their experiences during lockdown. The project team created a short video using clips from the dairy episode to translate research findings to wider audiences. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnmOC2PmUgw |